Rack



Jn. 5, 1937. J, C HALL 2,067,051

y RACK Filed Jan. 50, 1935 Jayce C ff/l ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES OFFICE y 3 claims.

My invention relates to counter or floor racks for displaying cards or other flat articles, and has for its principal object to provide a device of that character whereby cards or the like arranged in vertical rows in the rack may be similarly viewed from the same elevation regardless of vertical position of the cards in the rack.

For accomplishing this object I provide a rack including means for supporting the articles to be displayed in vertical rows with their front faces in progressively` variable inclined planes, all substantially perpendicular vto lines of Vision, having a common focal point at a distance from and elevation relative to the rack corresponding i to the eye of an observer of average height.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred form of my invention:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a rack embodying my improvements, showing the different inclinations at which cards are supported in the several vertical rows` Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the rack, particularly illustrating the progressive inclination of the several card holders and the means for eifecting such inclination.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of va portion of the rack, particularly illustrating assembly of the card holders in the rack.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates an assembled rack including end members 2 having bottom edges 0 adapted for supporting the rack upon a counter or floor 5.

The end members 2 are high at the back and low at the front and have upper edges curved diminishing radius for a purpose presently disclosed. e

Extending between and secured to the en members 2 are downwardly and forwardly stepped bars 6, each having parallel upper and lower faces 1 8, a rear face 9 perpendicular to the top and bottom faces, and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front face I0, all of the bars being similarly dimensioned but arranged at progressively downward and rearward inclina.- tions; the top bar 6-A being substantially horizontal and the bottom bar 6--X having marked angularity as particularly disclosed in Fig. 2. The front faces of all the bars having the same angularity to their parallel top and bottom faces extend at progressively downward and forward inclinations relative to each other.

. `The bar II of the bottom holder has a rectangular base I2 extended to form a triangular head I3, one face of which seats .on the counter inwardly and downwardly on an arc of graduallyv 5 and the other of which extends perpendicularly to the floor, the contour of the edges of the' lower portions of the ends 2 conforming to the outer faces of the bar I I to provide symmetrical appearance as well as support for the rack members.

Attached at their upper edges to the inclined forward edge of each of the bars 6 and at ltheir lower edges to the'rear edge of the next lower bar 6 are back members I4, progressive inclination of the front faces of the bars thus insuring projection of the back members in likewise progressively inclined planes.

In assembling the holders, if the rack is to be supported on a counter or at like elevation, the bottom member of the upper holder is arranged substantially horizontally to support cards or other flat artidles substantially perpendicular to a line of vision substantially horizontal for a person of average height. The inclination of the lower holders progresses successively so that the back and bottom bars of the lowerrnost holder extend in planes approximately 45 to the horizontal but at right angles to each other, thus adapting it for retaining the cards or other flat articles always in a plane approximately perpendicular to the line'of vision of an observer of average height viewing the cards in the lower holder from the same position at which he views the cards in the upper holder; the angularity of the intermediate holders likewise insuring support of the cards or other flat articles therein also at right angles to such line of vision from such viewpoint so that the observer and possible purchaser is afforded a clear and comfortable view of all of the cards in the rack without change of position.

I preferably provide each of the holders or pockets with a front rail I5 for retaining the cards in the holders, such rails being preferably transparent `glass strips removably retained in grooves I6 in the end members 2 to prevent concealment of any of the lower portions of the cards carried in the pockets, and preferably removably seated in the grooves I6 in the end members 2 and supported on the forward edges of the cross bars 6, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 and 3.

`I'o insure positioning of the cards at the proper angles in the respective pockets I preferably provide each pocket with a wedge-shaped block I'I, seated on the bottom bars `(i, to directthe lower portions of the cards toward the front of the pocket and incline the cards for bearing against the upper portions of the back members, as par` ticularly illustrated in Fig. 2. The blocks I1 for all of the pockets are of the same dimension; consequently, the progressive inclination of the cards heretofore described is not disturbed by the blocks I1.

While the members of the card holder may be assembled together and the assembled holders mounted between the end members 2 in any suitable Way, I prefer to first assemble the holders with fastening members, such as nails I8, projected through the upper portions of the back members into the front edges of the respective bottom bars 6, and like fastening members projected through the lower portions of said back members into the rear portions of said bars; then to attach the assembled holders to the end members with nails or like fastening members I9, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 3. An assembly of the holders with the rack ends is uniform when the parts are formed to standard dimensions, the slots I6 for the rails I5 may be formed in the end members 2 and serve as guides for mounting of the card holders.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that cards or other flat articles carried in vertical rows within the holders present their front faces all in planes substantially perpendicular to the lines of vision of a person of average height so that such person may be alforded a comfortable, clear view of all of the cards in the rack merely by raising and lowering his eyes and without the necessity for moving his head or bending his body.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rack of the character described, supporting means, stepped cross-bars xed to said supporting means having top faces variably inclined to a horizontal plane at the base of said supporting means and having front and rear edges, the lowermost cross-bar having an angular head, one side of which is coincident with and the other perpendicular to said horizontal plane for cooperating with said -supporting means, and back members having top and bottom ends xed to the front and rear edges respectively of adjacent cross-bars for cooperating therewith in supporting fiat cards in planes substantially perpendicular to lines of vision having a common focal point.

2. In a rack of the character described, supporting means having slots, stepped cross-bars xed to said supporting means having top faces variably inclined to a horizontal plane at the base of said supporting means and having front and rear edges, the lowermost cross-bar having an angular head, one side of which ls coincident with and the other perpendicular to said horizontal plane, back members having top and bottom ends xed to the front and rear edges respectively of adjacent cross-bars for cooperatingtherewith in supporting fiat cards in planes substantially perpendicular to lines of vision having a common focal point, and transparent rails mounted in the slots of said supporting means and cooperating with said bars and back members to form pockets for said cards.

3. In a rack of the character described, supporting means having slots, stepped cross-bars fixed to said supporting means having top faces variably inclined to a horizontal plane at the base of said supporting means and having front and rear edges, the lowermost cross-bar having an angular head, one side of which is coincident with and the other perpendicular to said horizontal plane, back members having top and bottom ends fixed to the front and rear edges respectively of adjacent cross-bars for cooperating therewith in supporting flat cards in planes substantially penpendicular to lines of vision having a common focal point, transparent rails mounted in the vslots of said supporting means and cooperating with said bars and back members to form pockets for said cards. and wedge shaped blocks mounted onsaid bars for directing the lower portions of said cards toward said rails.

JOYCE C. HALL. 

